Clock-radio volume control



April 18, 1967 E. GOLDWASSER 3,315,167

CLOCK-RADIO VOLUME CONTROL Filed Nov. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4U j.IEIJ. Q

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April 18, 1967 E. GOLDWASSER CLOCK-RADIO VOLUME CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 1 3

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III I I! III III/I I'll l/II BY W63 II 21' III II III III I III I! ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,315,167 CLOCK-RADIO VOLUME CONTROL Eric Goldwasser, 600 W. 239th St., Bronx, N.Y. 10463 Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 320,687 Claims. (Cl. 325-396) This invention relates to a device for controlling the volume of clock'radios and refers more particularly to a device for gradually raising and lowering the radio volume according to whether the listener is waking up or going to sleep.

Prior art clock-radios generally incorporate devices which enable the listener to set the radio for playing for a predetermined period, after which it shuts off automatically as for example, when the listener is in bed and going to sleep. It is also possible to set clock-radios so they will turn on automatically in the morning for awakening the listener. The latter is generally accomplished by a device which functions according to the setting of the clock alarm, the radio being automatically turned on some time prior to actual sounding of the alarm. When the radio plays at these times however, the volume re mains constant at the level previously selected by the listener and determined by the position in which he manu ally set the volume control knob on the radio. It is also known that a sleeper will not be abnormally affected by noise at the beginning of the awakening period if the noise is at a very low level. On the other hand, very loud noises harshly intrude on the sleepers subconscious and may cause the person to awake with a start. As the sleeper gets closer to actual awakening, his subconscious normally becomes more attuned to noise of increasing loudness. Thus if a sleeper is to be awakened by a noise such as a radio broadcast, it is 'both natural and beneficial to coordinate the volume with the sleepers subconscious responses, so that the noise starts at zero volume and gradually increases over a period of time just prior to the time the sleeper actually will awaken. The converse of the foregoing applies in the case of a person going to sleep. Thus if the person is listening to the radio, the volume should be decreased slowly from a normal level to a zero level over a period of time.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for gradually raising and lowering the volume of a radio.

Another object is to provide a device for gradually raising and lowering the radio volume of 'a clock-radio depending on whether the listener wishes to use the clockradio as an aid for waking up or falling asleep.

Another object is to provide a volume control device for a clock-radio which enables the listener to both set the radio for play at a gradually decreasing volume when the listener is going to sleep, and for play at a gradually increasing volume in the morning when the person starts to awaken.

Still another object is to provide a volume control device for a clock-radio which is simple in construction and compact in size and, as such, readily suited for installation in clock-radios of almost any design.

A further object is to provide a volume control device for a clock-radio which may be constructed as a separate unit from the clock-radio and be operatively connected with the volume control shaft of the radio during times when it is desired to automatically raise and lower the radio volume at a controlled rate.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In achieving the objectives of the present invention it was found advantageous to provide a volume control device for a clock-radio which comprises a slow speed drive motor which may be selectively connected with one drive disc train for rotating the volume control shaft on the radio receiver of a clock-radio in one direction so as to lower the radio volume from a normal level to a zero volume over a period of time. By connecting the motor output with another drive disc train, the volume control shaft may be rotated in an opposite direction so as to gradually increase the volume from a zero to normal level. Means are provided in the device so that if it is used to gradually decrease radio volume, as for example at night, the device will automatically reorient itself when zero volume is reached so that the volume will gradually increase when the radio turns on in the morning.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a clock-radio equipped with a volume control device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the front of the clock-radio being partly broken away to show the volume control device.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1, the top of the clock-radio being partly broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view as taken along line III-III of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top of the clock-radio showing the control lever used for connecting the drive motor with the disc drive trains, and the detent means utilized for locking the lever in various drive positions.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the volume control device constructed as a separate unit which can be used interchangeably with a number of clock-radios for controlling volume therein.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view in elevation showing the manner in which the control unit of FIGURE 5 may be coupled to the volume control shaft of a clock-radio by means of a flexible connector for controlling the radio volume.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front of the clock-radio housing showing the setting of the volume control knob for a controlled lowering of the radio volume at night when the listener uses the radio as aid for falling asleep.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Throughout the specification like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.

Referring now in detail to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, the clock-radio illustrated therein comprises a housing 10, a clock mechanism or unit 11 located within the housing and a radio receiver 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The clock 11 includes a face piece 13, a time switch control 14 by means of which the radio receiver may be turned on for play for a predetermined period of time after which it automatically turns off, and a radio-alarm control 15 for playing the radio independently of control by the clock unit and for setting the alarm in the clock unit (FIG. 1). As best seen in FIGURE 2, the radio receiver 12 includes a station tuning control 16, a rheostat 17 for controlling radio volume, a volume control shaft 18 connected with the rheostat and a control knob 19 for manually rotating the control shaft. As seen in FIGURE 2, the radio receiver 12 may be connected to the clock unit 11 by wiring 20. A power cord 21 with plug is provided for connecting the clock unit with a source of electricity. It is thus seen, that the radio receiver is powered through the clock unit in accordance with the settings of timer switch control 14 and radio alarm control 15. The foregoing clock-radio construction is old and well known in the prior art. Prior art clock-radios may also include a male outlet 22 which is wired to the radio receiver in a known manner and which may be utilized for operating an appliance, such as a coffee pot, at a predetermined time.

The volume control device 30 includes front and rear support plates 31 and 32 respectively, which are located within housing 10 (FIG. 2). The front support plate 31 is not shown in the cut away portion of FIGURE 1. A small drive motor 33 is supported within housing 10 a distance above the support plates 31 and 32 for swingable movement between selected driving positions, The drive motor is firmly connected to one end of lever 34 which is swingably supported on a pivot 35, the pivot being suspended from the top of housing 10 as at 36 (FIG. 4). The lever 34 extends at the other end a distance above the top of housing 10 and is made of a resilient material, such as spring steel. The output shaft 37 of motor 33 rotates at a slow speed, preferably r.p.m. A driver disc 38 is connected with motor shaft 37 for rotation therewith. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the lever 34 may be used to swing the motor from the neutralno drive position shown to the left and right wherein the driver disc 38 will be in driving positions U and D, illustrated in broken lines, depending on whether the radio volume is to be raised or lowered. When the motor is swung to the left, the driver disc 38 being moved into the U position engages disc 39. Disc 39' is in turn fixed on one end of shaft 40 which is rotatably supported in plates 31 and 32. Another smaller disc 41 is fixed on shaft 40 at the other end and is in constant engagement with a volume control disc 42 fixed on volume control shaft 18. It is thus seen that driver disc 38 which rotates counterclockwise, drives disc 39 clockwise. Smaller disc 41 which is also rotating clockwise, will drive the volume control disc 42 and hence, the volume control shaft 18 counterclockwise or in the direction required to raise the volume of the radio from a lower to higher level. On the other hand, swinging the motor to the right will move driver disc 38 into the D position wherein it engages disc 43 which is fixed on one end of shaft 44 supported rotatably in plates 31 and 32. A smaller disc 45 is fixed to the other end of shaft 44 and is in constant engagement with disc 46 which is fixed on shaft 47, the latter being supported rotatably in front plate 31 only. Disc 46 is also in constant engagement with volume control disc 42. Thus, driver disc 38 which rotates counterclockwise, will rotate' disc 43 clockwise. Disc 45 also turning clockwise will drive disc 46 counterclockwise, so that volume control disc 42 and volume control shaft 18 will be driven clockwise or in a direction to reduce the radio volume.

The above-mentioned discs are all made of a material having a high coefficient of friction. It is also possible, however, to use gears instead of friction discs.

It should be noted that lever 34 is moved in an opposite sense to the movement of the drive motor 33. Thus when the motor 33 is moved to the left to cause drive disc 38 to engage disc 39, the lever 33 is moved to the right to the R position (FIGURE 1). Likewise, moving the lever to the left or L position moves the driver disc 38 to the right or D position.

Lever 34 extends up through the top of housing of the clock-radio through a slot 48 therein (FIG. 4'). The slot 48 has a detent section 49 corresponding to the L position of the lever, a lever neutral position detent section 50, and a detent section 51 corresponding to the R position of the lever. A tension spring 52 is connected at one end with a vertical pin 53 carried in the housing and at the other end with the lever. The tension spring 7 acts to urge the lever into the R position at all times.

Referring in greater detail to FIGURE 4, the lever 34 is shown in solid lines as being in its L position, which corresponds to a positioning of the driver disc 38 in engagement with disc 43 for driving the volume control shaft 18 to lower radio volume. The lever 34 is engaged in detent section 49 of slot 48 and while tension spring 52 is tending to pull the lever to the right, it is hung upon the shoulder of the end of detent section 49 and will remain therein. -If it is desired to move the lever to a neutral position, it is pulled slightly toward the front of housing 10 so as to clear detent 49. It is then slid along inclined surface 54 and inserted in detent section 50. In the latter position, the motor 33 is so positioned that driver disc 38 is disengaged from both disc 39 and disc 43. The action of tension spring 52 then tends to keep the lever hung up in detent section 50. It should be noted that the insertion of lever 34 in detent section 50 requires a deliberate action. 'In other words, if the user merely pulled lever 34 forward of the shoulder in detent section 49 and then let go, the lever would pass right by detent section 50 and be pulled all the way over to detent section 51, wherein the lever would be in its R position and driver disc 38 would be engaged with disc 39. The reason for this particular construction will become more apparent later on in the specification wherein the automatic reorientation of the control from a volume lowering condition during night radio playing will be described.

A further understanding of the construction of the volume control device 30 will be apparent from the description of the manner in which it is used. Assuming that the listener is going to bed and Wishes to play the radio for a short time, preferably thirty minutes, during which time the radio volume will decrease from a normal level to a zero level, the listener first sets the volume control knob 19 as shown in FIGURE 7. To do this, the marker 55 on the face of knob 19 is aligned with the arrow N on the housing. of about /2 maximum intensity which is to be reduced to zero volume in thirty minutes. The volume control knob on most prior art clock-radios, and it is assumed for purposes of example herein, rotates almost one full revolution when going from a zero to full volume setting. Since the volume set-ting is about /2 maximum intensity and the radio is to play for 30 minutes, the volume control shaft should be rotated at r.p.m. to achieve a zero volume within the prescribed time. The listener then positions lever 34 in its L position by moving it into detent section 49 at the top of housing 10. As a result, drive motor 33 is swung to its -D position and driver disc 38 will engage disc 43. To this point, nothing will happen to rotate disc 43 since the drive motor 33 is not rotating. On the other hand, to insure that the drive motor 33 will run so as to rotate the volume control shaft 18, the drive motor is wired into the radio receiver circuit as shown in FIGURE 8. Thus whenever the radio is playing the drive motor will rotate. Whether this constant driving of the motor whenever the radio is playing will effect volume control, will thus be a function only dependent on the setting of lever 34. The listener now sets timer switch control 14 to play the radio for 30 minutes. This will turn the radio receiver on and the radio will start to play. Simultaneously, drive motor 33 will start to rotate at its speed of /5 r.p.m. The diameter of the driver disc 38 which also rotates at /5 r.p.m. is unity. On the other hand, disc 43 being rotated by driver disc 38 has a diameter of three units which means it rotates at one third the speed of driver disc 38 or /s r.p.m. Shaft 44 and disc 45 likewise rotate at r.p.m. The diameter of disc 45 is A unit while that of disc 46 is 1% units. Thus disc 46 will rotate at r.p.m. iln turn, it drives volume control disc 42 which has a diameter of unit (and volume control shaft 18), at a speed of This corresponds to a volume decreasing volume level which was directly coordinated with his mental responses in falling asleep.

With the listener now asleep, and the volume setting at zero, it is necessary to reorient the volume control unit 30 so that in the morning the radio volume will be gradually increased for awakening the sleeper. Referring now in detail to FIGURES 2 and 3, the reorientation of the control unit is accomplished by providing shaft 44 with an extension 44a at the end of which is fured a bevel gear 56. Bevel gear 56 meshes with another bevel gear 57 of the same dimensions which is fixed at the lower end of vertical shaft 58, the latter being rotatably supported in housing 10 on bracket 59. A sheave 60 is fixed to the upper end of shaft 58. Another sheave 61 is supported for rotation in housing 10 on a vertical shaft 62 and is located adjacent drive motor 33. Sheave 60 is one-half the diameter of sheave 61 so that the driving cord 63 connecting the sheaves will drive sheave 61 at one-half the speed of sheave 60. Extension shaft 44a rotates at r.p.m. This rotation is transmitted by bevel gears 56 and 5 7 to vertical shaft 58 which also ro tates at A r.p.m. Thus sheave 60 rotates at A r.p.m. and sheave 61 will be driven at r.p.m. Sheave 61 is provided on its upper surfaces with a camming arm 64 which projects radially beyond the periphery of sheave 61 so that as the sheave rotates, the camming arm will strike lever 34 if it is in its L position. This is best seen in FIGURE 2 wherein the camming arm 64 is shown in dashed lines in its striking position. The camming arm in striking lever 34 will force it forward of the shoulder at the end of detent section 49 (FIG. 4) and tension spring 52 will pull the lever over to the R position so that driver disc 38 will engage disc 39 and the control unit will be reoriented for volume increase the next time the radio receiver turns on. As seen in FIGURE 2, the camming arm will strike only lever 34 if it is in the L position, otherwise, the camming arm rotates clear of all other elements such as drive motor 3-3. Since sheave 61 rotates at $4 r.p.m., it is obvious that the camming arm 64 may be arranged on the sheave so it will strike lever 34 just before the radio receiver shuts off. It should be noted that if volume control shaft 18 is manually adjusted to a random volume setting, as for example, during daytime independent radio playing, sheave 61 will rotate since the discs 46, 45, 43 and gears 56 and 57 are always in driving engagement. On the other hand, when the clock radio is set for play at night by adjusting time switch control 14, the listener will set control knob 19 by aligning mark 55 as previously described, and this insures that sheave 61 rotates sufliciently to set camming arm 64 in proper angular relation to lever 34 to strike it just before the 30 minute playing period ends.

The volume control unit 30 is now reoriented to increase the volume of the radio when it turns on in the morning. Referring to FIGURE 1, the radio alarm switch 15, it is assumed, will have been moved to the alarm se position. It is well known that doing this will cause the radio receiver to turn on some predetermined time before the alarm actually sounds in the morning. Thus with the alarm set to sound at 6 a.m. since alarm hand 65 is so set, the radio receiver 12 will turn on some time before 6 a.m. 'In many clock-radios, the time is twenty minutes prior to the sounding of the alarm. Thus the radio will turn on at 5:40 a.m. and the volume will start to raise from a zero level at that time to full level at 6 a.m. As soon as the radio receiver turns on, motor 33 will start to rotate with driver disc 38 rotating counterclockwise. Disc 39 which is also unity in diameter will therefore be driven clockwise at /5 r.p.m. Disc 41 which is A; of unity in diameter also rotates clockwise at /5 r.p.m. -'But volume control disc is unity in diameter and it will be driven counterclockwise by disc 40 at r.p.m. Thus, the volume control shaft will turn from a Zero volume position to a full volume position in twenty minutes. When the sleeper is awakened, he turns the radio alarm switch 15 to an alarm off or radio off position either of which will shut the radio off and stop motor 33. He may then move lever 34 to a neutral position in detent section 50 and the radio receiver is set for normal daytime playing.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, the volume control unit 70 shown therein may be constructed as a separate portable unit for use with clock-radios wherein a volume control unit has not been incorporated. The unit comprises a box-like housing 71 wherein drive motor 72 is carried by lever 73 pivoted a 74 for swingable movement. The motor drives driver disc 75' which may be moved into engagement with disc 76 or disc 77 depending on whether the radio volume is to be raised or lowered. Disc 76 is mounted on the same shaft 78 as small disc 79 which drives disc 80 counterclockwise to rotate output shaft 81 counterclockwise. Disc 77 on the other hand, will through discs 82 and 83 drive to output shaft 81 clockwise. As seen in FIGURE 6, the output shaft 81 extends out through the rear of housing 71 and by means of a flexible tube 8 8 may be operatively coupled with the volume control shaft 84 of clock-radio 85 to adjust the rheostat 86 of radio receiver 87. The operation of volume control unit 70 is in all other respects the same as that of volume control unit 30. The drive motor 72 is connectedby means of an electric cord 89 which carries a female plug 90, with the outlet 22 on the clock-radio and in this manner the motor is powered at any time the radio receiver is on. To accomplish the foregoing, the outlet 22 has to be wired into the radio receiver unit so it will be hot whenever the radio is playing.

'It is seen that the volume control unit of the present invention offers the advantages of enabling listener to play a clock-radio at night with the radio volume being gradually lowered over a period of time. This has a soothing beneficial effect on the listener and is of therapeutic value in helping him to fall asleep. Likewise, the volume control unit allows the radio to be turned on in the morning with the volume being gradually raised so that the listener is awakened in a pleasant manner.

While there is above disclosed but some embodiments of the volume control unit of the present invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clock-radio having means setting the radio for playing for a predetermined time period, a rheostat for regulating volume output, and a volume control shaft connected with the rheostat; a device for controlling radio receiver volume comprising:

a rotary driver disc;

a motor driving said rotary driver disc at a constant speed; and

means connected with the first-mentioned means and operatively connecting said rotary driver disc with with said volume control shaft during said time period for uniformly rotating said volume control shaft, and thereby varying the volume output uniformly during the course of said time period.

2. In a clock-radio having a rheostat for regulating volume output, and a volume control shaft connected with the rheostat; a device for raising and lowering radio receiver volume between predetermined levels comprising:

a motor having a constant speed output shaft;

a rotary driver disc mounted on said output shaft;

first transmission means operatively connected with said volume control shaft and adapted to rotate said volume control shaft in one direction;

second transmission means operatively connected with said volume control shaft and adapted to rotate said volume control shaft in an opposite direction; and means for selectively moving said rotary driver disc into driving engagement with said first transmission means and with said second transmission means during preselected time periods, whereby said volume control shaft is rotate-d to raise and lower volume output uniformly during the course of said time periods.

3. In a clock-radio having a rheostat for regulating volume output, and a volume control shaft connected with the rheostat; a device for raising and lowering radio receiver volume between predetermined levels comprising:

a motor having a constant speed output shaft;

a rotary driver disc mounted on said output shaft;

a volume control disc mounted on said volume control shaft;

means for supporting said motor and said driver disc in the clock-radio for movement between two operating positions;

a first rotary disc transmission operatively connected with said volume control disc and drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is in one of said operating positions during a preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in one direction, thereby raising volume output uniformly during the course of said time period; and

a second rotary disc transmission operatively connected with said volume control disc and drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is in the other of said operating positions during a different preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in an opposite direction, thereby lowering volume output uniformly during the course of said different time period.

4. In a clock-radio having a rheostat for regulating volume output, and a volume control shaft connected with the rheostat; a device for raising and lowering radio receiver volume between predetermined levels comprising:

a non-reversible motor having a constant speed output shaft;

a rotary driver disc mounted on said output shaft;

a volume control disc mounted on said volume control shaft;

a lever firmly connected at one end with said motor;

means for supporting said lever for swingable movement within the clock radio, whereby said motor and said driver disc may be moved between two operating positions;

a rotatable shaft;

a pair of discs mounted on said rotatable shaft, one of said discs being in constant engagement with said volume control disc, the other of said discs being drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is in one of said operating positions during a preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in one direction, thereby raising volume output uniformly during the course of said time period;

another rotatable shaft;

a disc mounted on said other rotatable shaft and being in constant engagement with said volume control disc;

at third rotatable shaft; and

another pair of discs mounted on said third rotatable shaft, one of said discs being in constant engagement with the disc on said other rotatable shaft, the other of said discs being drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is in the other of said operating positions during a different preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in an opposite direction, thereby lowering volume output uniformly during the course of said different time period.

5. In a clock-radio having a housing, a rheostat located within said housing for regulating volume output, and a volume control shaft connected with the rheostat; a device for raising and lowering radio receiver volume between predetermined levels comprising:

second operating positions, the other end of said lever extending through the top of said housing; a pair of parallel spaced plates supported in said housing, said volume control shaft extending through said plates and being rotatable therein; first shaft supported rotatably in said plates; a pair of discs mounted on said first shaft, one said discs being in constant engagement with said volume control disc, the other of said discs being drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is swung into said first operating position during a preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in one direction, thereby raising volume output uniformly during the course of said time period;

a second shaft supported rotatably in one of said plates and parallel with said first shaft;

a disc mounted on said second shaft and being in constant engagement with said volume control disc; a third shaft supported rotatably in said plates and parallel with said first and second shafts; and

another pair of discs mounted on said third shaft, one of said discs being in constant engagement with the dis-c on said second shaft, the other of said discs being drivingly engaged with said rotary driver disc when said rotary driver disc is swung into said second operating position during a different preselected time period, whereby said volume control shaft is rotated in an opposite direction, thereby lowering volume output uniformly during the course of said different time period.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the top of said housing has an elongated slot through which said lever extends; said slot having a detent section at one end for receiving said lever when said motor and said driver disc are swung into said first operating position, a detent section at the other end for receiving said lever when said motor and said drive disc are swung into said second operating position, and a detent section intermediate the ends of said slot for receiving said lever.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a pin supported at the top of said housing, and a tension spring connected at one end with said pin and at the other end with said lever, and acting to urge said lever into the first-mentioned detent section.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the second-mentioned detent section has a shoulder extending transversely of said slot for holding said lever in said detent section, and means operable on the occurrence of a predetermined event for releasing said lever from said shoulder.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said releasing means comprises:

a sheave;

means for supporting said sheave for rotation in a path adjacent said lever; and

a camming arm mounted radially on said sheave and extending beyond the periphery thereof, said camming arm engaging on said lever when said lever is in said second-mentioned detent section for urging said lever off said shoulder.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

another sheave; means for supporting said other sheave for rotation 9 10 in a plane parallel with the first-mentioned sheave; References Cited by the Examiner a driving cord supported on said sheaves for trans- UNITED STATES PATENTS mitting movement therebetween; and driving means connected With said other sheave and 2,168,045 8/1939 Pack 325 406 with said third-mentioned shaft, whereby said other 5 sheave rotates when said driver disc is in its second KATHLEEN CLAFFY lmary Examme' operative position. R. P. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOCK-RADIO HAVING MEANS SETTING THE RADIO FOR PLAYING FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD, A RHEOSTAT FOR REGULATING VOLUME OUTPUT, AND A VOLUME CONTROL SHAFT CONNECTED WITH THE RHEOSTAT; A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING RADIO RECEIVER VOLUME COMPRISING: A ROTARY DRIVER DISC; A MOTOR DRIVING SAID ROTARY DRIVER DISC AT A CONSTANT SPEED; AND MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST-MENTIONED MEANS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID ROTARY DRIVER DISC WITH WITH SAID VOLUME CONTROL SHAFT DURING SAID TIME PERIOD FOR UNIFORMLY ROTATING SAID VOLUME CONTROL SHAFT, AND THEREBY VARYING THE VOLUME OUTPUT UNIFORMLY DURING THE COURSE OF SAID TIME PERIOD. 